Montgomery County Council recently introduced a sweeping change in its road code. While it had many good intentions it failed to meet those intentions. The following comments are a worthwhile read for any transportation planning as well as any environmentalist who would like to see the transportation network more environmentally friendly.

Commentary by Bill Wilkinson

RECISIONS -- SHOW ME WHERE THE MONEY WENT!
Last October, Tom Murtha of the Chicago MPO posted a question on one of the listservs about how the various State DOTs have dealt with Congressionally-mandated recisions for federal transportation funds. Periodically, the Congress will direct that the amount of funds authorized be reduced by some percentage. The FHWA allows each State DOT to decide on its own what programs to take the required dollars from to meet their required recision total. What this means is that if they so choose, a State DOT can take ALL of it from CMAQ or Transportation Enhancements or Safe Routes to School or whatever, and not touch other programs.

And, would you believe that this is exactly what some State DOTs opted to do? Shocking.